In most cases, structural engineers assume a concrete floor to be a rigid diaphragm. Although this simplification is in most cases acceptable, it should be noted that such an assumption may be distrusted due to certain problems. Concrete structures with staggered shear walls are among those whose analysis should be conducted with special concern for the behavior of their floor diaphragms. Howev...

This paper compares the measured lateral load behavior of a 0.4-scale “hybrid” precast concrete wall test specimen with the behavior of a second precast specimen designed to emulate monolithic cast-in-place reinforced concrete shear walls. Both walls have the same overall geometry and are constructed by placing rectangular wall panels across horizontal joints. The lateral resistance at the join...

Reinforced concrete walls are commonly used as the primary lateral-force-resistingsystem for tall buildings. As the tools for conducting nonlinear response history analysis have improved and with the advent of performance-based seismic design, reinforced concrete walls and core walls are often employed as the only lateral-force-resisting-system. Proper modeling of the load versus deformation be...

Reinforced concrete walls are commonly used as the primary lateral force-resisting system for tall buildings. As the tools for conducting nonlinear response history analysis have improved and with the advent of performancebased seismic design, reinforced concrete walls and core walls are often employed as the only lateral forceresisting system. Proper modelling of the load versus deformation be...